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Police called to elementary school classroom over 'racist' brownie comment

Posted: 7:27 PM, Jun 29, 2016

Updated:2016-06-30 01:27:18Z

By:
Mina Abgoon

Police were recently called to a New Jersey elementary school classroom after a third-grader made comments about a brownie that another student called “racist.”

It happened at William P. Tatem Elementary School in the town of Collingswood, when a teacher called police during a third grade end-of-the-year party, Patch.com
reports.

One student apparently made a comment about brownies, though it wasn’t clear exactly what was said, and another student deemed the comment racist.

Police subsequently spoke with the 9-year-old boy who made the comment, as well as his parents. The incident was also referred to the New Jersey Division of Child Protection and Permanency.

Now, the mother of the boy who made the comment is raising concerns that police were called for something so trivial – something she and other parents say is part of a recent trend.

With cops being called to the school as many as five times per day, school officials are alerting authorities over things that would typically be handled as routine behavioral issues.

"I'm not comfortable with the administration [at Tatem]. I don't trust them and neither does my child," the boy’s mother, Stacy dos Santos, told Philly.com
. "He was intimidated, obviously. There was a police officer with a gun in the holster talking to my son, saying, 'Tell me what you said.' He didn't have anybody on his side."

“He said they were talking about brownies,” Dos Santos said. “Who exactly did he offend?"

The mayor, police and the Camden County Prosecutor's Office reportedly met Tuesday night to discuss cases at the school that might have been handled with more reasonable punishments, like revoked recess.

Dos Santos said her son was "traumatized” because of the police investigation and wants him to change schools next year.

The student subsequently stayed home the next day, for his last day of third grade.

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